Chapot rides to double victories

LAKE PLACID – Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, won both the $5,000 Hollow Brook Wealth Management 1.40m Speed Stake and the $1,500 Lake Placid Summit Resort & Suites 1.35m Jumper Class on Wednesday at the I Love New York Horse Show.

Chapot topped a field of 27 horses and won the one-round 1.40m Speed Stake by finishing in the fastest time of 54.665 seconds on Bradberry. She also placed third in the class on Castellana, fourth on Zealous and fifth on Shooting Star. Blair Willmer placed second with a time of 60.645 seconds on Wednesday Morning.

In the $1,500 Lake Placid Summit Resort & Suites 1.35m Jumper Class, Chapot topped a field of 39 horses by riding Umberto to two clean rounds and the fastest jump-off time of 29.058 seconds.

The I Love New York Horse Show, the second of three consecutive horse shows at the North Elba Show Grounds, runs through Sunday and is followed by the inaugural Adirondack Horse Show, July 9-13.

The Lake Placid Horse Shows draw a wide range of riders, including Olympic veterans and international show jumping stars. The three-week horse show series hosts all levels of competition, from those just beginning their riding careers on ponies all the way up to grand prix competitors, vying for more than $750,000 in prize money. The horse show kicks off each morning at 8 a.m. with classes running all day in all four rings.

Highlighting this week are the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Eastern Hay & Purina Animal Nutrition, on Saturday and the $75,000 I Love New York Grand Prix presented by Sea Shore Stables, on Sunday.

Show jumping fans who are not able to make it to the Lake Placid Horse Shows will still be able to watch the competition live at. ShowNetVision.com.

Admission to the Lake Placid Horse Shows is $2 on weekdays and $5 on weekends. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more and admission is half price with a Price Chopper Advantage Card. Tickets are available at the gate. The horse shows are located at the North Elba Show Grounds, 5514 Cascade Road (Route 73) in Lake Placid, directly across from the ski jumps.

More information on the Lake Placid Horse Shows is available by calling the Lake Placid Horse Show Association at 523-9625 or online at www.lakeplacidhorseshow.com.